Help! I think my laptop has died

[1ponders] (Paul) · #1 18-11-2006, 01:27 PM

I'm really hoping someone here will say "Nah, you just need to do this and this

"

I was processing some avies on Reg 4 this morning and my laptop suddenly locked up. I'd just clicked on my IIS icon to check out the site at the time. I thought I'd just leave it for a while to see if it would sort itself out but it didn't. I tried Ctrl+Alt+delete. It didn't work. I turned off the external HDD which is where the files Reg was working on are stored, to try to jolt it back into reality. Nope nothing. I then pressed the start button to turn it off and then restart it. Laptop turned off. Pressed the on button, laptop start, initial Acer screen (with press F2 to enter Setup at the bottom - normal) started, ran a bit longer than normal, then went to a black screen with curser flashing in top left corner - normal, kept flashing - not normal, finally switches to the next screen - blank- normally stays like this for a couple of seconds and then continues to boot up. Stays at blank screen and doesn't go any further.

I unplugged it, removed the battery and let it sit for an hour. Put the battery back in and plugged it back in, restarted, no change.

Now here's the really scary thing. Over the past week or so the laptop has made the occassional "strange" noise, sort of like the DVD drive kicking in. It made those some noises (with I think, a couple of 'clunks" as well. I was in the kitchen and only just heard something I thought sounded a bit strange.) this morning while processing.

Is anyone able to shed some light on what the problem might be? BTW If I press F2 at start up I can enter Setup np.

nightsky · #2 18-11-2006, 01:58 PM

G'Day Paul,
Thats happened me a few times, click "Del" when the computers starts
you have a few choices for start up, one of them is "optimum settings" try
that and see what happens, if that dont work,then do the same again but with another setting, while your there check to see if the hard drivei s there, also if you make a mistake and hit the wrong thing,just cancel "Don't save" Good luck
Arthur

sheeny (Al) · #3 18-11-2006, 02:09 PM

I've had some similar sounding things happen with my Acer lappy too. Not sure why. Mine will hang on a black screen on boot up - can't do anything just power it down. It keeps doing the same thing until I boot it up in safe mode and then shutdown. Then it's OK... (till next time)

Don't know if it's the same thing, but it might be of some help...

Al.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 18-11-2006, 02:11 PM

What's your safe mode procedure Al? I'm not getting to where I can nomally do a Safe start.

Thanks Arthur, I'll give that a go.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 18-11-2006, 02:13 PM

Nope, no go Arthur. All I get is a tone going beep beep beep. and then nothing.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #6 18-11-2006, 02:17 PM

I switched of Quiet Boot in the Setup and then restarted to see if I could tell anything from there.

One message I got was "System Configurationg Data Read Error"

nightsky · #7 18-11-2006, 02:24 PM

Paul I assume you tried both start up? also did you see your hard drive when you where in there? the top left one cmos? you can also try putting in your windows cd or whatever came with the computer, if that fails you might have to format your hard drive

[1ponders] (Paul) · #8 18-11-2006, 02:26 PM

I really really don't want to format my HDD if I can help it. I only did it about a month ago and I've only just finished getting everything back to where I wanted it.

nightsky · #9 18-11-2006, 02:29 PM

damm, do you have win xp? or just a cd that came with the computer? it should have "repair" a install there,try that

[1ponders] (Paul) · #10 18-11-2006, 02:33 PM

This is what comes up at the start

CPU details
Ram passeed
Extended Ram passed
Cache ram passed
Sys Bios shadowed
Fixed disk 0: HTS4.......
CD blah
Mouse initialized
System Config Data Read Error.

nightsky · #11 18-11-2006, 02:37 PM

if it does not boot up into the cd, reboot hit del,there is a section there where you can tell it to boot from a cd 1st and 2nd choice hard drive,just make sure when you get it running again you will have to go in again and change it back to boot hard drive first

nightsky · #12 18-11-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

This is what comes up at the start

CPU details
Ram passeed
Extended Ram passed
Cache ram passed
Sys Bios shadowed
Fixed disk 0: HTS4.......
CD blah
Mouse initialized
System Config Data Read Error.

Well at least it's not a hardware problem, but software,so there is hope yet

the cd that came with the computer should be able to fix the config file with out having to format it

[1ponders] (Paul) · #13 18-11-2006, 02:43 PM

I don't get anything when I press "Del" To boot from the CD I need to hit F2 and go ito the bios and change my boot order from there. I think the only CDs I have are rescue CDs that format everything.

nightsky · #14 18-11-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

I don't get anything when I press "Del" To boot from the CD I need to hit F2 and go ito the bios and change my boot order from there. I think the only CDs I have are rescue CDs that format everything.

Thats strange Paul,it should give you a choice either a full install or repair a install.I really cant think of anything else that you can try

sorry

[1ponders] (Paul) · #15 18-11-2006, 02:51 PM

I've changed my boot order, put in the system CD, the CD spins up and then nothing, all it's doing is going "clunk clunk"

nightsky · #16 18-11-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

I've changed my boot order, put in the system CD, the CD spins up and then nothing, all it's doing is going "clunk clunk"

Wish I could think of something else,but I'm all out of suggestions,is the "clunk" comeing from the hard drive or the cd drive? have you ever opened you laptop? if so take out the hard drive, then put it back in again,that has helped me a few time,it's worth a try.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #17 18-11-2006, 02:59 PM

I think I need to go and have a cup of tea and calm down for a while. Then maybe I'll see this in a different light.

nightsky · #18 18-11-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

I think I need to go and have a cup of tea and calm down for a while. Then maybe I'll see this in a different light.

Well at least your not standing on a ledge somewhere

I'm going for a smoke,and a cuppa as well.

nightsky · #19 18-11-2006, 03:16 PM

Paul, sorry I have to go offline,we just got vistors, hope you get it going

sheeny (Al) · #20 18-11-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

What's your safe mode procedure Al? I'm not getting to where I can nomally do a Safe start.

Thanks Arthur, I'll give that a go.

Hmmm, I see things aren't going smoothly...

Most times after the hang, when I fire the lappy up the second time I get a message like "Windows was not shut down properly" or similar and it gives me an option of safe mode, normal start and a couple of variations on safe mode to pick from. If I choose normal, it just hangs again , but if I do a safe mode, it fires up, I shut it down and restart and the world is a good and wholesome place again...

Not much help unless you can't get the safe mode option!

Al.